New EP with Death Cab for Cutie Engineer Beau Sorenson

When I was a little kid in school, graphic arts class was basically the only course I got EXCITED to go to. Drawing and designing without hard guidelines was so liberating in a deeply rigid public school system where it was popular to look down on "arty" quiet kids as "losers" or "weirdos". It was the one safe class where I didn't feel judged. Plus, the teacher let us listen to rad 90's alternative music while we worked (Pixies, Weezer, Wilco, Death Cab, Nada Surf). I wasn't the most talented person in the class, not even close. It was incredible to see the "picked on" quiet kids come out of nowhere and blow people's minds with their talent in graphic arts class. I hope the prodigies in that class are still creating stuff. 

Recently, I've seen a few of my most talented friends quit music or other creative pursuits. It gets me pretty bummed how it's often the most genius creative work that we never actually see. It's the songs or stories or paintings that never leave the basement studio because the people who make them receive little to no encouragement from a society that seems to value the arts less and less all the time. People can only go for so long on their own steam. Every time someone quits what they were born to do, the light gets a little dimmer for everyone.  

So here's the deal. Society will push you around. It will make you feel guilty for being unique, or taking risks, or pushing boundaries. Society looks down upon odd-balls, weirdos & people who don't follow what is "normal" or "status quo". This makes me sad because it keeps so many brilliant minds at bay, too scared to put themselves out there. That's been stirring in my mind quite heavily and I've been venting it into a new EP.  It's about taking risks and embracing those who take them. It's about honoring the weirdos that go on their own ride (or are about to) and light their own road. It's for the ones who decide who they are for themselves, and not based on what others tell them. This EP is called 'The Stars are as Good as a Nightlight' (out Feb 23 on Nomad Union). It is deeply influenced by the 90's alternative music I listened to in graphic arts class. The lead singles were recorded by Death Cab for Cutie engineer Beau Sorenson. Thanks for sticking with me,

Brett

*A cd copy of the EP is free with any merch store purchase until Feb 23.